The Character of God Revealed James 1 17

Read the passage: James 1 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james+1&version=ASV

1. The origin of goodness.

(Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.

from God- as a gift in contrast with man’s normal pursuit.

2. The virtue of goodness.

        (every good gift and every perfect gift)

The gifts can only be good and perfect, because that is God’s character.

3. The release of goodness.

(cometh down)

       We work too hard in the flesh, trying to attain. When Gods choice is to give. Our part is faith.

   

4. The record of God’s authorship.

v. 6  (from the Father of lights,)

        The testimony of the Creator. God is greater than the created.

        God is purposefull in His creation, in His giving of gifts to men.

    

5. The changelessness of God’s character.

(with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.)

God can only be good, only be perfect, only be right. 

        God cannot be ever the minutest degree different than right.

6. The blamelessness of God’s character.

(with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.)

The arguments of v. 8-15 bring accusation against God as good in His 

         provision.

7. The irrefutability of the truth of God’s character.

Removing believer’s argument

The Giving of Thanks 1 Thessalonians 5: 18

Read the passage: 1 Thessalonians 5

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5&version=ASV

(In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning 

you.)

1:4 1. It is every believer's honest acknowledgement of mercy and grace.

...(Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.) ...

1:6 2. It is not circumstance dependent; but is God dependent.

2:2 (having received the word in much affliction) ....

If it has to be good to give thanks, we won't.  God is good, the basis forgiving of 

thanks.

2:4 3. It is a statement of faith.

(...but God, which trieth our hearts.)

It may even require faith to give the thanks.

2:5- 4. It is ultimately tied to the truth of scripture. 

  8 (...Nor of men sought we glory, ...as the apostles of Christ.)...

There is no rejoicing apart from truth.

3:2 5. It is an acknowledgement of God's commitment to His own.

(...to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

3:3, 6. It does not wrestle with the pathway of God's choosing. 

  4 (That no man should be moved by these afflictions: ....tribulation;...)

3:6, 7. It is a crown to faith.  

  7 (...good tidings of your faith and charity,  ...)

God crowns faith with His reward

3:7 8. It is a witness of strength, God's strength.

(we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:)

3:9, 9. It nurtures the faith of others.

  10 (...for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;  ...)

3:11- 10. It is an honest acknowledgement of God as my source.

  13 (Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, ...)

4:1 (how ye ought to walk and to please God, ...)

It is further an acknowledgement of the full sufficiency of Christ.

4:3- 11. It is God's reproof to evil.   

  7 (For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from

  fornication: ...)

The impact of evil influence is overcome in a believer's life by the

  acknowledgment of Christ as source.  Thanksgiving is thus, a protection.

The presence of thanksgiving in the hearts of believers serves also as a reproof

  to evil and its affliction and corruption.

Rom. 12:  21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

4:9 12. It rejoices in love's common expressions.

(But as touching brotherly love ....)

4:11,13. It is an affirmation of contentment and commitment to God.

12,18 (study to be quiet, .....have lack of nothing;  comfort one another ....)

5:  11 (Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, ...)

4:13-14. It doesn't lose sight of the coming hope of Christ's rapture of the church.

   18 (....Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in

  the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord.)

The Message of Thanksgiving Ephesians 5: 20

Read the passage: Ephesians 5

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians+5&version=ASV

(Giving thanks always for all things unto God.)

1. It reveals how free our heart is.

Troubles cause friction- slows down freedom.

David had a free heart- filled with much praise because He meditated on who

  God is.

A heart in harmony with God will praise Him because Christ is responsible for the

result.

2. It reveals where our security comes from.

Insecurity robs the heart of its joyful acknowledgment of God’s sufficient care.

A believer may realize however through insecurity how dependent upon Christ,

        he is.

3. It reveals our system of values.

One trapped by worldly gain and pleasure will be of ungrateful heart.

4. It reveals the object of our love and devotion.

Do we love Jesus enough to thank Him?

5. It reveals our priority.

Gain of self or gain of Christ.

Concern for self or concern for the things of Christ.

6. It reveals our understanding of God's influence in our life.

God’s involvement in everything, every detail.(at least by design)

i.e. physical body functions

7. It testifies of God's uninterrupted goodness to me.

The Cause for Rejoicing Joshua 5 9

Read the passage: Joshua 5

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua+5&version=ASV

(And the Lord said unto Joshua, this day have I rolled away the reproach of 

Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto 

this day.)

1. Rejoice that God got us to this point in spite of ourselves.

2. Rejoice God hasn’t abandoned us.

3. Rejoice we are still a people together.

4. Rejoice God is still sweet and good.

5. Rejoice God is loving and forgiving.

6. Rejoice God holds His plan in place.

7. Rejoice in getting right with God so you can go on with God.

We Don't Have to Follow After Sin Romans 6 12

Read the passage: Romans 6

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+6&version=ASV

(Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the

lusts thereof.)

1. Christ has no choice for sin in the life o the believer.

2. The new life excludes sin.

3. Sin is not the choice of the new life.

(Let not sin, therefore, reign …)

4. Sin has no automatic control over the new life.

5. Sin has no loyalty to the new life.

(in its lusts.)

6. Reckon the control of sin over.

7. Desire the life of Jesus above all else.

The Lord's Obvious Blessing Genesis 26 12-16

Read the passage: Genesis 26

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+26&version=ASV

v.12 1. God's blessing is obviously the evidence of God at work in a servant's life.

(Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an 

hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.)

v.12 2. God's blessing exceeds any other form of increase.

(Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a 

hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.)

v.13 3. God's blessings continue to a humble and obedient heart.

(And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became 

very great:)

God required him to acknowledge his sin before Abimelech, a humbling

  experience, one that also revealed who Isaac's God is.

v.13 4. God's blessing is intended to increase a servant's influence.

(and went forward,)

v.13 5. God's blessing is intended to make a servant great first of all before God.

  (and grew until he became very great:)

v.14 6. Not all of God's servants will have the same proportionate blessing, but all

  will be immeasurably blessed.

(For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store

of servants: and the Philistines envied him.)

v.14,7. God's blessings cannot be imitated by the world; God's blessings bring

   16 unique favor.

(and the Philistines envied him.)

(For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of

Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with

earth.)

(And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than

we.)

He Who Holds the Bounds in HIs Hand Psalms 104 9

Read the passage: Psalms 104

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+104&version=ASV

(Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over;.. that they turn not again

  to cover the earth.)

1. God is boundless Himself, but He does impose boundaries in life.

2. God appoints bounds to enable the enjoyment of His blessings.

The sea is bound in to be used by man. 

God places bounds upon a believer to allow him to enjoy the Christian life.

 see v. 10

3. God's bounds are not to limit but to define liberty.

A believer is not free to do as he likes, but he is free to do all God permits.

4. God controls His creation and His creature through bounds He has

  predefined and imposes.

Man has a free will but is still very much under the control of God.

5. God places bounds for protection.

Otherwise the sea would flood earth.

Bounds become a protection to men to allow them to enjoy God's

  freedom.

6. That which God has originated and created cannot escape nor set aside 

God's bounds.

Man may think he rules, but only God is the ruler.

7. One who is constantly challenging the bounds will never know the depth of

  His bountiful sea of provision.

It is generally shallow at the bounds of the sea.

To know God's richness, one must give himself to the one who holds the 

bounds in His hand and trust him with life itself.

Where There is Liberty Genesis 26 22-24

Read the passage: Genesis 26

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+26&version=ASV

(And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they

  strove not; and he called the name of it Rehoboth, and he said, For now 

the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.)

v.22 1. A place of God’s supply.

(And he removed from thence, and digged another well;)

v.22 2. A place free from strife.

                ( and for that they strove not;)

v.22 3. A place giving wide opportunity.

                ( and he called the name of it Rehoboth,)

                Rehoboth means broad places.

v.22 4. A place where there is freedom to seek after God.

                ( and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us,)

v.22 5. A place where there is room for blessing-the blessing God is sure to give.

( and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us,)

v.22 6. A place of fruitful opportunity.

                ( and we shall be fruitful in the land.)

(v 23.  And he went up from thence to Beersheba.)

        

v.24 7. A place where God makes Himself known.

               (And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of

               Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee,  and 

               multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.)

The Power of God Displayed Acts 12 11

Read the passage: Acts 12

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+12&version=ASV

1. Overcoming human restraints.

(When they were past the first and the second guard, they)

v.10 2. Overcoming physical barriers.

(they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to

  them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one

  street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.)

v.11 3. Overcoming servant slowness.

(And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety,

  that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of 

Herod, …)

v.11 4. Overcoming evil’s intention.

(hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from)

v.11 5. Overcoming railing expectations.

(and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.)

6. Overcoming false accusation.

7. Overcoming every obstacle against God’s pathway.